We’re a small team—there’s always room at our table for guests.
Susan Rybar, Principal
strategist
facilitator
content creator
project manager
traveller
Paris Spence-Lang, Consultant
strategist
researcher
communications
sustainability
traveller
Vardo Creative was incorporated with the vision to provide smart, creative strategic planning, destination development, marketing and business consulting services to the tourism industry.
Since then the company has worked with all levels of government, Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs, destination marketing and management organizations, sector marketing organizations, small and large businesses, economic development agencies, educational institutions, and more.
Clients include Provincial ministries, Destination BC, Indigenous Tourism BC, BC Parks, Destination Canada and Atlantic Canada, State of Alaska, Tourism Yukon, Travel Alberta, Canada West Ski Areas Association, Canada Ski Council, go2HR, Tourism Victoria, Tourism Richmond, and Tourism Prince George, among others.
Vardo Creative is a small business, with the majority of work being conducted by Susan Rybar, the Principal. Susan is a senior business professional who brings more than 30 years of marketing, destination development, strategy development and business management experience, including over 22 years of direct experience working with the tourism industry in British Columbia. She has been involved in all aspects of destination management, including strategic planning, marketing, product development, research, heritage, parks, human resources, customer service training and visitor services.
Prior to launching Vardo Creative, Inc., Susan held the positions of Assistant Deputy Minister, Tourism Partnerships for the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation and Vice President, Visitor Experience for Tourism British Columbia where she has held responsibility for 56 employees, $20M budget administration, and $86M in annual revenue. In addition, Susan held a temporary role as Vice President, Destination Management for Destination BC.
She has a reputation as a creative strategic thinker who is able to implement a vision, and an effective communicator who is able to bring people together around a solid forward-looking plan.
Susan works with a group of subcontractors when required, and has contractual arrangements with other marketing and tourism professionals.
Paris brings a lifelong commitment to sustainability to his consulting work. Since 2023, he has worked with EarthCheck — the world's leading sustainability accreditation body for tourism operators and destinations — as a consultant and in business development, helping tourism organizations pursue meaningful sustainability outcomes.